Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

There is a consensus amongst many that Christmas has become too dominated by the idea of want, of commercialism bathing in some sort heavenly glow answering all the problems of the world with just a little help from a couple of double A batteries. It could be argued that is why so many have turned away from whichever deity or religion they were bought up to observe and openly state so in the national census. The often repeated music that gets released and played ad infinitum over many high street shops plays a hand in the apathy that is felt, come spend your money on gifts people don’t particularly need whilst you grow ever more weary of hearing the soundtrack to the season, shop after shop.

There may be nothing anybody can do about the ever increasing commercialism, the decorations being put up even before autumn bids farewell for another year but in one tiny corner of the south coast, Richard Durrant has produced an album that warms the heart of any Christmas bearer of humbugs and undisguised apathy to the time of year.

Christmas Guitars is an album that turns the now traditional spectre of somebody wishing it was Christmas every day around and the music that this very talented musician provides will make anybody remember when the time of year was used for reflection, the chance to meet up and break bread and not toys. The taste of roasted chestnuts abides, the gentleness of the first flurry of snow that wasn’t immediately swept up by a passing snow mobile and the innocence of laughter, tears, regret and beauty all made the time something more than it has become.

Richard Durrant’s guitar is impressive, at times it feels as if it an amalgam of artists such as Steve Hackett and Greg Lake, simple and honest and whilst the subject matter of the songs is up for debate in some quarters there is no doubting the joy that abounds in tracks such as Emmanuel Gloria, An Acoustic Winter Solstice, A Northern Winter Night, which was written by Paul Cartledge and a tremendous piece which involves the speaking talents of the great Barry Cryer, the story of The Polar Bear.

The album is a collection of good work by many guest musicians who pepper the songs with some absolutely charming music, none so least as Amy Kakoura on guest vocals and The Choir of St Nicholas and St. Mary School in Shoreham, their voices bring a resonating light into anyone’s day.

A smashing album which deserves attention and brings home a message of what the time of year really represents.

Ian D. Hall